AHRQ Patient Safety Network

Preventing Medication Errors: Quality Chasm Series. Classic icon

Committee on Identifying and Preventing Medication Errors, Aspden P, Wolcott J, Bootman JL, Cronenwett LR, eds. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2007.

A major report by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) on medication errors suggests that, despite all the progress in patient safety since To Err is Human, medication errors remain extremely common, and the health care system can do much more to prevent them. Among the startling statistics from this report: more than 1.5 million Americans are injured every year in American hospitals, and the average hospitalized patient experiences at least one medication error each day. The report emphasizes actions that health care systems, providers, funders, and regulators can take to improve medication safety. These actions include having all US prescriptions written and dispensed electronically by 2010, more widespread use of medication reconciliation, and additional research on drug errors and how to prevent them. Importantly, the report also emphasizes actions that patients can take to prevent medication errors, such as maintaining active medication lists and bringing their medications to appointments. Support for the IOM report came from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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